Game control method, server device, game system, and computer-readable recording medium

Abstract

A social game and the like that can increase the fun and amusement of a team battle and enhance players' motivation to participate in or continue a game by suppressing an occurrence of any non-participation team not participating in the battle are provided. A guild status determination unit determines, for each guild, whether the guild is in an inactive state or an active state, based on a result of detecting a login state of each player. A guild integrated control unit forcibly disbands a guild (i.e. an inactive guild) determined to be in the inactive state, based on guild activity information notified from the status determination unit. A disbandment notification unit notifies each player belonging to the inactive guild, of the disbandment of the guild.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling a server for providing a battle game between groups, wherein each group comprises a plurality of players, the method comprising:
 detecting, by the server, an independent player, wherein the independent player does not belong to any of the plurality of groups; 
 if the independent player has never belonged to any group and the independent player satisfies a first condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledging, by the server, the independent player as a first type of formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group; 
 if the independent player has once belonged to a group and an activity status of the independent player satisfies a second condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledging, by the server, the independent player as a second type of formation wait player; and 
 creating, by the server, a new group when the independent player satisfies a setting condition. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the activity status to which the first condition relates differs from the activity status to which the second condition relates. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein acknowledging an independent player as a first type of formation wait player comprises:
 comparing, by the server, the activity status of the independent player with player determination information relating to the independent player; and 
 determining, by the server, whether the independent player is acknowledged as a first type of formation wait player based on the comparison. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein comparing, by the server, the activity status of the independent player with player determination information relating to the independent player comprises comparing at least one of:
 the player's game score with a predetermined score, and 
 the player's progress with a predetermined progress criterion. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein acknowledging an independent player as a second type of formation wait player comprises:
 comparing, by the server, the activity status of the independent player with player determination information relating to the independent player; and 
 determining, by the server, whether the independent player is acknowledged as a second type of formation wait player based on the comparison. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein comparing, by the server, the activity status of the independent player with player determination information relating to the independent player comprises comparing at least one of:
 the player's game score with a predetermined score, and 
 the player's progress with a predetermined progress criterion. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the setting condition comprises at least one of:
 the experience value of the independent player is equal to or greater than a specified number; and 
 the independent player possesses a specified item. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disbanding, by the server, a group of the plurality of groups determined to be in an inactive state. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein
 determining, by the server, a group of the plurality of groups to be in the inactive state is carried out based on at least one of the following criteria: 
 (1) the group has no battle against another group for a predetermined period or more; 
 (2) no login to the battle game is performed by any player belonging to the group for a predetermined period or more; and 
 (3) the number of players belonging to the group is below a predetermined number for a predetermined period or more. 
 
     
     
       10. A server for providing a battle game between groups, wherein each group comprises a plurality of players, the server comprising circuitry configured to:
 detect an independent player, wherein the independent player does not belong to any of the plurality of groups; 
 if the independent player has never belonged to any group and the independent player satisfies a first condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledge the independent player as a first type of formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group; 
 if the independent player has once belonged to a group and an activity status of the independent player satisfies a second condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledge the independent player as a second type of formation wait player; and 
 create a new group when the independent player satisfies a setting condition. 
 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by a server, cause circuitry of the server, to:
 detect an independent player, wherein the independent player does not belong to any of a plurality of groups, wherein each of the plurality of groups comprises a plurality of players; 
 if the independent player has never belonged to any group and the independent player satisfies a first condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledge the independent player as a first type of formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group; 
 if the independent player has once belonged to a group and an activity status of the independent player satisfies a second condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledge the independent player as a second type of formation wait player; and 
 create a new group when the independent player satisfies a setting condition.